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BIG PHYSICS, BIG QUESTIONS –

Europe threatens court action over Germany’s clean cars

By
DEBORA MACKENZIE in
BRUSSELS

Germany has fallen foul of the European Commission for promoting cars
that are much cleaner than the EC requires. The Commission is considering
taking Germany to court.

It fears that a German proposal to offer tax breaks to people buying
cars with diesel engines that emit very small amounts of soot could wreck
a hard-fought agreement reached by EC environment ministers last December,
which set a higher limit on soot emissions.

Diesel engines churn out tiny carbon particles, often coated with hydrocarbon
compounds that are known to be carcinogens. Diesels are used in trucks throughout
Europe, but German manufacturers favour diesel engines in cars, especially
in luxury models such as the Mercedes. Although EC environment ministers
set tough limits on the main gaseous pollutants from cars – carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons – over the past two years, until recently
there were no limits on soot.

At the end of last year, the environment ministers agreed a limit of
0.14 grams of soot per cubic metre of exhaust gases. All new models have
to meet this standard by mid-1992; other cars have an extra six months to
meet the requirement.

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Germany wanted lower limits for soot, partly because of pressure from
environmentalists, and partly because its car manufacturers have the most
experience in building diesel engines. Germany wanted a limit of 0.08 grams
per cubic metre.

So far, that limit can be attained only by test models. But in November,
the German government told the Commission that ‘nine major European car
manufacturers’ will ‘shortly be able to produce the cars’ that emit 0.08
grams of soot. Germany plans to reduce road tax by 190 Pounds for people
who buy diesel cars that meet this standard. Around 70,000 drivers could
benefit from the tax relief.

The European Commission decided last week that this is not illegal state
aid to the car industry becase the cleaner engines will add between 230
Pounds and 700 Pounds to the cost of the car. But the Commission is still
concerned that the measure will give German cars an unfair advantage over
other EC cars. This would be illegal under the EC Treaty. Makers of diesel-powered
cars from outside the EC could also benefit.

Carlo Ripa de Meana, the EC environment commissioner, is concerned that
Germany’s tougher standards will cause ministers from other countries to
abandon last month’s agreement on a single EC limit for soot emissions.

If the Commission does take legal action Germany could invoke EC legislation
allowing member states to impose tougher environmental standards than EC
norms, if they can show that their environment would otherwise be at risk.